Japan to Create New Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Unit

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, right, visits the residence of French Ambassador to Japan Thierry Dana in Tokyo last month to write a message of condolences for victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Japan will set up a new intelligence unit focused on analyzing international terrorism threats as it strengthens security measures before hosting next year’s Group of Seven summit and the Summer Olympic Games in 2020.

The new task force will be set up inside the foreign ministry beginning next Tuesday, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. The government had been seeking to strengthen its intelligence activities overseas following the assassination of two Japanese nationals in Syria by Islamic State militants early this year.

“We will set up the new team ahead of schedule” in light of the increasing threats of terrorism, the government’s top spokesman said during his regular news conference Friday.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters the new unit will focus on international threats.

Mr. Suga said intelligence units hadn't established a solid network between ministries and agencies, but the new team will work to gather information from overseas and collaborate with other organizations, including the police and the Public Security Intelligence Agency.

Officers of the new intelligence unit will be dispatched to local embassies in areas including Southeast Asia, the Middle East and southwest Africa, Mr. Suga said.